Exploring Great Basin National Park
- Written by
- On Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Year Established: 1986
Acres: 77,180
Annual Visitors: 90,000
Entrance Fee: $7.50-$15
Located in Nevada near the Utah border, Great Basin National Park is known for its massive ancient bristlecone pines, majestic caves, and diverse ecosystems.
The park is home to over 800 species of plants, including the oldest non-clonal organism ever discovered, a Great Basin bristlecone pine tree that was at least 5,000 years old. The tree, dubbed Prometheus, was cut down in 1964 for research purposes.
The park also hosts a wide variety of fauna, including 61 species of mammals and 238 bird species. Cougars, bobcats, and bighorn sheep roam the park’s rugged mountain slopes, while an abundance of jackrabbits, ground squirrels, and chipmunks call the low-elevation sagebrush desert home. You may also catch a glimpse of elk, mule deer, and shrews during your visit.
In addition to wildlife, the Lehman Caves are among Great Basin's most popular attractions, which began forming 550 million years ago when the park was still submerged in the ocean. The decorative caves are composed of marble and limestone, and feature an elaborate system that visitors can only access by guided tour. These tours are offered daily, year-round, but you should definitely make a reservation ahead of time as they frequently sell out.
Visitors to the park can also take advantage of its many hiking trails, including the Bristlecone Pine Trail. The 2.8-mile loop will lead you through bristlecone pine trees to Nevada’s only glacier, located at the base of Wheeler Peak. Speaking of Wheeler Peak, visitors can summit it by way of an 8.6-mile trail, which will take you up 2,900 feet of elevation to the peak, which is 10,160 feet above sea level.
If you’d prefer to rest your feet while you see the sights, then you can hop in the car and head down Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive. The 12-mile stretch features stunning views of the surrounding valleys and mountains as you gain 4,000 feet in elevation and cross through several ecological zones.
History buffs will love to visit the park's Baker Archaeological Site, which contains the remains of a Fremont Indian village from 1220 CE. It’s not uncommon to find artifacts from this time period there, but it’s strictly forbidden to remove them. Many of the site’s artifacts are stored at Brigham Young University’s Museum of People and Cultures in Provo, Utah.
Given the park’s many attractions, it’s easy to want to spend a few days there, in which case camping is a great option. The park features five developed campgrounds, each with vault toilets, picnic tables, tent pads, and campfire grills. All of the sites are open May through October, with one campground, Lower Lehman Creek, open year-round.
If you do decide to camp out, then you’ll be treated to one of the park’s most remarkable sights: the night sky. Virtually everywhere in the park offers stunning stargazing opportunities, which are maximized when you plan your trip around clear, moonless nights.
Whether you spend an afternoon driving along the park’s scenic roads or you spend a week camping in the wilderness, you’re sure to make great memories during your visit to Great Basin National Park.
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